On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the New Waterway (Nieuwe Waterweg), the LDE PortCityFutures Center organizes an International Symposium to explore the past, present and future of this channel that links Rotterdam to the North Sea and of comparable channels worldwide.
Ship channels like the New Waterway have supported maritime traffic and port development for many decades. Today, these ship channels and the landscapes that host them require radical reconsideration, to meet the need for an energy transition, to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The future of these channels is a key in creating a new balance between economic development and related infrastructures on the one hand, and a sustainable and resilient environment on the other hand. Future strategies need to be based on broad public debate and support.
The symposium brings together a diverse group of international and local academics and professionals to discuss initiatives and possibilities for shipping channels and port cities, the challenges and implications for water management, spatial planning and design, and public participation. It sets the stage for much-needed interventions in water-related planning and management worldwide.

www.150yearnewwaterway.com/